Aidan Hailes

A Total Renovation During the Pandemic

Coordinating every trade in a condo — flooring, cabinets, counters, railings, ceiling, plumbing, fixtures, and structural changes — is a significant undertaking under normal conditions. Doing it while supply chains began to seize during the pandemic raised the stakes considerably. Aidan Hailes contracted Mode Built for exactly that project, moved out to give the team full access, and fourteen weeks later walked back into a space that felt brand new.

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“We contracted MODE for a total condo renovation – a relatively big project touching every part of our place. Flooring, counters, cabinets, railings, ceiling, plumbing, fixtures, and some minor structural changes on top. They delivered everything on time and on budget, which was very impressive considering the entire project happened during the pandemic, and supply chain problems were starting to kick in near the end. Right from the beginning they were straight forward with us, letting us know some of our ideas were probably impractical, but quickly offering up alternatives. They also asked far more questions than other contractors we talked to, talked about their business process and timelines, and were generally open and transparent about everything right off the bat. They had us meet directly with their suppliers across town to pick out every little piece we needed, and everyone we dealt with was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and more than willing to answer our questions. We moved out to give them full access to our condo unit, and fourteen weeks later, we had a brand new place. They were quick to alert us to any issues throughout the process (the building is only from the 1980s, but still old enough there were some surprises of course), and gave us updates (or encouraged us to just pop in) whenever we needed. Their team, and all the trades they brought in, were friendly and helpful, and everyone did a fabulous job. We asked a lot of questions and they were very patient with all of our inquiries, though obviously it is hard to get a firm answer sometimes with multiple groups all involved in some decisions along the way. We’d definitely recommend MODE for any projects – big or small – you come across. They were amazing at every step and we would happily use them again if we ever needed more work done in our place.”

Mode Built — an Edmonton-based residential renovation company specializing in full home remodeling, basement development, kitchens, and bathrooms — completed Hailes’s total condo renovation in fourteen weeks, on time and on budget. The project covered every room and every trade during a period when supply chain disruptions were beginning to affect material availability across the industry. Hailes described the team as amazing at every step and confirmed they would hire Mode Built again. You can review their full home remodeling services in Edmonton to understand what a project of this scope involves.

Is a Full Home Remodel the Right Scope for Your Project?

Before committing to a total remodel, it helps to identify which approach fits your situation. Use the framework below to clarify your next step.

What Mode Built Includes in a Full Home Remodeling Project

Every Trade, Every Room

Hailes’s project covered flooring, counters, cabinets, railings, ceiling, plumbing, fixtures, and minor structural changes — every major trade in a single coordinated engagement. Mode Built manages this type of project as a unified scope, not a series of separate contracts handed off between independent tradespeople. Full home remodeling projects with Mode Built in 2026 average $71,000, which reflects the depth of trade coordination and material quality involved. If your renovation touches the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement separately, Mode Built handles each as part of the same structured process — see their kitchen renovation services in Edmonton and bathroom renovation services in Edmonton for scope details on each.

Selecting Materials Directly with Mode Built’s Suppliers

When a renovation touches every surface in a home, the material selection process determines whether the finished product matches what the homeowner actually wanted. Most contractors present a shortlist of options drawn from their preferred suppliers — which limits your choices and makes it difficult to verify whether the selections reflect your taste or the contractor’s convenience. Mode Built takes a different approach. Hailes described meeting directly with Mode Built’s supplier partners across town to pick out every single material needed for the project, with supplier staff who were knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. Think of it as selecting every component yourself — the way you’d test-drive a car before buying rather than accepting a dealer’s description — with supplier expertise available at each step.

How Early Scoping Protects Your Budget

Mode Built’s team told Hailes from the beginning which ideas were probably impractical, and offered alternatives before any commitment was made. This matters for budget protection. Scope creep — the primary driver of renovation cost overruns — typically starts when a contractor discovers mid-project that a client’s expectation doesn’t match what the space allows or what the budget covers. Two contractor selection errors accelerate this risk: choosing a contractor who provides a single-number estimate without an itemized scope, and choosing a contractor who does not flag impractical ideas during the quote process. Mode Built’s practice of identifying these issues before quoting locks the scope before work begins, not after.

Switching to a new renovation contractor, or engaging a full remodeling firm for the first time, carries real friction. You will spend time in initial consultations, go through a planning phase before any construction starts, and live with uncertainty about whether a new team will perform the way the last one didn’t. That transition cost is real, and it is worth factoring in honestly before initiating a new contractor relationship.

Mode Built prefers projects in homes built after 1990. Older properties — particularly those built before 1989 — carry a higher likelihood of encountering asbestos, poly-B piping, or other conditions that complicate scope and cost. Homeowners with older properties should raise this directly during the initial consultation to understand how Mode Built approaches those risks.

How Mode Built Manages a Full Home Renovation from Start to Finish

From First Conversation to Final Walkthrough

A full home remodel involves more decision points than most homeowners anticipate before starting. Mode Built structures the engagement as a traceable sequence so that each phase is approved before the next begins.

1. In-home consultation: Mode Built visits the property, assesses the space, and listens to the homeowner’s vision for every area.
2. Transparent scoping: The team identifies which ideas are practical and which are not, and offers alternatives — before any money changes hands.
3. Detailed quote: Mode Built produces a fixed quote covering scope, cost, and timeline specific to the property.
4. Plan approval: No work begins and no payment is required until the homeowner has reviewed and approved the plan.
5. Supplier selection: The homeowner meets directly with Mode Built’s supplier partners to select every material — flooring, counters, fixtures, tile, and finishes.
6. Construction and trade scheduling: Mode Built schedules all trades and manages material delivery throughout the build.
7. Proactive issue identification: When the build surfaces unexpected conditions — as it did in Hailes’s 1980s building — Mode Built alerts the homeowner immediately and proposes solutions.
8. Progress communication: Homeowners receive updates throughout or are invited to visit the site whenever they want visibility.
9. Final walkthrough: Mode Built walks the homeowner through the completed space before closing out the project.
10. Two-year warranty: Every completed project is covered by a two-year satisfaction warranty from the date of completion.

What Happens When Issues Surface Mid-Project

What happens when a contractor finds something unexpected inside the walls of a 1980s building? Hailes described Mode Built as “quick to alert us to any issues throughout the process” — not managing problems quietly and hoping the homeowner wouldn’t notice. The team also offered clients the option to visit the site at any point, which means progress visibility was always available, not rationed. Other renovation contractors in Edmonton also offer full home remodeling services, and some specialize in faster turnaround for smaller scopes or lower price points. Mode Built’s communication model is worth comparing directly against any contractor you are evaluating.

Here is a less obvious point about the on-time, on-budget outcome: established supplier relationships provided a layer of protection during the pandemic that most homeowners don’t factor into contractor selection. Supply chain disruptions affect contractors with spot-market purchasing arrangements far more severely than those with long-standing supplier partnerships. Hailes noted that supply chain problems were starting to surface near the end of the project — yet Mode Built still delivered on time and on budget. Supplier relationship depth is generally not visible in a contractor’s quote, but it directly affects timeline reliability when material availability is volatile.

Draw-Based Payments Tied to Completed Work

Mode Built uses a draw-based payment structure: homeowners pay as project milestones are completed, not upfront in full. This means payments reflect work that has already been done — not work that has been promised. For a project the scope of Hailes’s total condo renovation, this structure reduces the homeowner’s financial exposure at every stage. The same structured process governs Mode Built’s basement development projects in Edmonton, where milestone-based payments keep accountability clear throughout a multi-week build.

RenoMark Certification, Warranty, and Getting an Estimate

RenoMark Certified with a Two-Year Satisfaction Warranty

Mode Built holds RenoMark certification, which requires contractors to follow a higher standard of performance than non-certified operators. Every completed project — whether a total condo renovation like Hailes’s or a single-room remodel — is covered by a two-year satisfaction warranty. Mode Built’s full residential remodeling services extend across kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and whole-home projects. Homeowners facing a complex, multi-trade renovation can learn more about Mode Built’s renovation standards and founding story to understand what drives the company’s approach to quality and client experience.

Financing Available Through Financeit

Financing for home renovation projects is available through Mode Built’s partnership with Financeit. Approximately 90% of applicants receive approval, which makes larger remodeling projects accessible to homeowners who would otherwise need to delay. This option exists as a practical tool — not a sales pitch. Hailes’s response after completing the project was that they would “happily use them again.” That kind of outcome — where the experience itself generates confidence rather than relief — is what a well-managed renovation with a contractor you trust can produce.

Request an Estimate for Your Edmonton Renovation

The first step is an in-home consultation with no obligation. Mode Built’s team visits the property, listens to the vision, and produces a detailed quote covering scope, cost, and timeline before any commitment is required. Fill out the estimate form on the Mode Built website or call (780) 221-3433. The office is located at 18304 105 Ave NW #103, Edmonton, AB T5S 0C6.